Methodist church holds World Cup service in a pub

A Chelmsford Methodist church has got into the World Cup spirit by holding its Sunday service in a nearby pub.Trinity Methodist Church took to The Globe for the first of what it hopes will become a monthly fixture.

"We chose this weekend because we thought we'd use football as something that's a common denominator," said the church's minister Rev Viv Gasteen.

"If it goes well then why not [do more?] It's where Jesus would be - in the heart of the community."

Rev Gasteen, who is a passionate Liverpool fan, told BBC Essex she felt it was an ideal place to take the message of God, even if at first glance it seemed and unusual location.

"Lots of people won't come into the church because they have a fear of what it might be like inside and the peculiar people in there," she said.

"But I have been coming to this pub for almost two years since I came to Chelmsford to watch football and have a natter."

Landlord Chris Butt said he was keen to foster closer ties between his pub and the local church."I've tried to take the pub back to the old style of a community pub, where the pub and the church are the centre of the community," he said.

"I think this would be good for me, good for the church and good for the community."

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/local/essex/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8726000/8726293.stm